RTPI Cymru's Response to: Promoting a resilient and high performing planning service
A Welsh Government consultation
On 16 January, RTPI Cymru submitted a response to the Welsh Government consultation on Promoting a resilient and high performing planning service. Read the response below.
Firstly, RTPI Cymru welcomes this consultation and the wider consideration and debate associated with planning fees and the costs of delivering an effective planning service. In the past, periodic fee increases have come forward against a backdrop of cuts, which have seen Local Planning Authority (LPA) services diminished across the whole of Wales – impacting on staff numbers, skills, morale and delivery, leading to the stretching of planning officer capacity and a decrease in skills in key areas. Problems have been further exacerbated by a drop in the number of trainees entering the profession in the public sector, which has coincided with a growth in job opportunities in the private sector, especially the energy sector. These wider, associated issues are fundamental to the operation and delivery of the planning service and must be addressed. Planning fees are intrinsically linked with budget cuts, service delivery, workforce skills, capacity and training and we believe must be considered as part of these wider, longer-term issues to ensure the planning profession can deliver on the Welsh Government’s objectives.
There is uncertainty regarding the true costs of delivering an effective planning service, but we welcome the intent to move towards full cost recovery using the Arup data, acknowledging that this is the best available information. In addition to the costs of service delivery to Local Authorities, the failure to improve planning service delivery will continue to result in social, economic and environmental costs due to delays. However, what the figures and this consultation do not reflect is the benefit and value that the planning system delivers, and planning fees are just a small part of the story. For example, planning and placemaking can help provide new homes in sustainable places, close to employment, with active travel routes and with associated investment in infrastructure secured via S106 agreements, as well as reducing societal costs linked to poverty and health. It can support economic growth, job creation and prosperity by developing new industrial and employment space, which then attracts additional business rates. It can make a place more attractive to visit and to live, which brings income to the local economy. Planning and placemaking underpins the delivery of sustainable development, ensuring high quality development in the right locations. The planning system, if used effectively, can be a significant part of the solution to social, economic and environmental challenges. There is an obvious financial case for Local Authorities to invest in planning. However, resourcing continues to be a key challenge for planning and its supporting sectors and services.
Recent data collected for Wales by the RTPI shows net expenditure on Local Authority planning services was cut by 50% from 2008 to 2021 in real terms, while the ambitious Planning (Wales) Act was introduced in 2015, putting high expectations on the planning system to implement policy and contribute to sustainable development (RTPI State of the Profession Report 2023 Plan The World We Need)
It is essential that the strain planning and its supporting services and sectors, including the wider public sector is currently under is recognised in developing a long-term strategy for planning fees and budget proposals, so that achieving ambitious policy and targets is realistic. This includes the adequate resourcing of Natural Resources Wales, Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) and the Welsh Government’s own Planning Directorate to enable it to support LPAs, and ensure the policy aspirations of Welsh Government are understood and implemented.
We note paragraph 111 of the consultation document says that “Part 2 of this paper contains proposals that are in the early stages and are not yet firmed up”. We agree that some proposals set out in this consultation could do with more clarity and detail before committing to a definitive answer.
Our comments on the consultation questions are set out below.